Producer Billy Sherwood once again leads this uber talented prog rock supergroup THE PROG COLLECTIVE for the release of its new album ”Songs We Were Taught” out today via CleoRecs.
This time THE PROG COLLECTIVE rides on a trip through some of the most recognizable and influential folk and art-rock songs of their generation with performances from Yes’ Jon Davison, Geoff Downes, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses/Asia), Steve Morse (Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Dweezil Zappa, Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night) and more.
Morse and Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) split “Summer Breeze” somewhere between Seals & Crofts’ original jasmine-scented memory and the metallic ecstasy of the Isley Brothers’ subsequent update.
Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat” was always well suited for a prog turn, and Sherwood does a credible job in collaboration with David Sancious, who was a member of the E Street Band and has backed Peter Gabriel. Thal’s turn is inevitably the heaviest of the bunch, dropping some killer guitar work on Caravan’s cover “In the Land of Grey and Pink”.
Davison and Geoff Downes turn “The Sound of Silence” into an airy confection – all Garfunkel reverie, while
Rod Argent approach “The Weight” by The Band with a very welcomed delicacy
Tracklist:
1. “The Sound of Silence” – Jon Davison (Yes), Geoff Downes (Yes/Asia)
2. “Year Of The Cat” – Billy Sherwood (Yes/Circa), David Sancious (E Street Band)
3. “House Of The Rising Sun” – David Clayton-Thomas (Blood Sweat & Tears), Steve Hillage (Gong)
4. “In The Land Of Grey And Pink” – Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns N' Roses)
5. “Summer Breeze” – Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings), Steve Morse (Deep Purple)
6. “Fire And Rain” – Sonja Kristina (Curved Air), Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
7. “The Weight” – Rod Argent (Zombies), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers)
8. “Wild World" – Rosalie Cunningham (Ipso Facto), Patrick Moraz (Moody Blues)
9. “It's Too Late” – Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night), Dweezil Zappa
10. “The Times They Are A-Changin’” – Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash), Jerry Goodman (Flock)
The Prog Collective – Songs We Were Taught (2022)+FLAC